One missing after boat sinks

At least one person is missing and presumed dead after an overloaded wooden raft capsized on Monday on the Kampar river, Riau. Kampar Police operations chief Adj. Comr. Hasyim said the raft, with a capacity of 60 people, had carried 75 passengers, mostly students.

The accident took place at around 7 a.m. in Rumbio village, Kampar regency. Rescuers are searching for the victim. Six motorcycles were also lost to the river in the accident. Also on Monday, a motorboat sank in Central Sulawesi after hitting a coral reef in Tanjung Manimbaya area amid bad weather, local port officials said.

However, all 116 passengers survived as they swam around 1.5 kilometers to the beach. The Monalisa boat was traveling from Tolitoli to Palu at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Such accidents are common in Indonesia as boats and ferries are often overcrowded and safety rules are poorly enforced. -- JP